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KWO made the call at the International Women’s Day event in Mae Sot, Thailand, held in partnership with the Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN). “Women’s participation in every sector is crucial. To seize these opportunities, women themselves need to learn and build their skills. Only then can they contribute to the well-being of their families and communities. We call for…

The festival is held annually on Tabaung Full Moon Day of the Myanmar calendar. This year, it took place from March 1 to 3 in the villages of Khalauknaing, on the east side of Mount Zwegabin, a well-known natural landmark in Karen State near Hpa-An, and in Donying on the west side. The festival featured around 100 stalls offering various…

In Myawaddy, a town on the border with Thailand, the number of abductions targeting young people out at night has increased in recent days. Such incidents are becoming increasingly common in the town, a town resident told KIC. “There have been cases where young people were abducted while walking on the streets in their own ward. It also depends on…

Deaths from landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Myanmar have risen each year since the 2021 coup. In 2023, 1,003 people were killed by the explosives, a figure that surged to 2,029 in 2024. As a result, Myanmar surpassed Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine to record the highest number of landmine and UXO casualties worldwide for two consecutive years. According to…

The drone strike occurred as DKBA troops were helping a civilian vehicle that had broken down near an area locally known as Yekone, a DKBA source said. “There had been fighting in the area, but there were no active clashes when our men arrived. They stopped after spotting a broken-down car and went to help. That’s when the attack happened.…

The KNU’s Department of Home Affairs, Religious Affairs and Prisons granted amnesty to 92 men and 12 women, excluding those serving sentences longer than seven years for major crimes such as rape, murder, and drug trafficking. The KNU said the amnesty ceremony was held on February 23. The amnesty applied to those sentenced before January 31 this year, aiming to…

Telecom scam operations, restaurants, massage parlors, beauty salons, laundries, and grocery stores that previously operated in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko Town have relocated to Payathonzu, largely under Chinese ownership, offering better job prospects for locals fluent in Chinese. As a result, more residents in the town are learning to speak and write Chinese, with course fees ranging from 300,000 to…

The meeting, held on February 18–19, brought together youth delegations from the Karen Youth Organization (KYO) and the Department of Youth Affairs (DOYA) of the Interim Executive Council (IEC) of Karenni State. The KYO said the event aimed to strengthen ties between Karen and Karenni youth and advance cross-sector cooperation in the revolutionary movement. “At a time when we need…

The stalls, operating without a license, have been targeted by junta-affiliated officials under the pretext of fire prevention and curbing illegal fuel sales. This has led many to close for fear of arrests in Myawaddy, a town resident car workshop owner said. “Most stalls are closed because owners received advance notice that arrests would begin on February 17. They also…

Paul Sein Twa, director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) and chairman of the Salween Peace Park, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with civil society organizations in Thailand and Laos on January 20 to establish the GMS Breath Council. The newly formed council will serve as a cross-border platform for local civil society organizations, enabling community-based…